Apparatus for refining oil



. F. STEPHENS.

APPARATUS FOR REFINING 0 |L. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 14, i918. 1,3?5327.

RENEWED JAN. 24, I921.

Patented Apr. 19, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- W. r mm W P4. 5 1 f S. F. STEPHENS. APPARATUS FOR REFINING OIL. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 14. I918. RENEWED JAN. 24, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

inventor.

Patented Apr. 19,1921.

SAMUEL F. STEPHENS, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD T0 WILLIS J. BOYLE, SR., AND ONE-THIRD T0 CHARLES G. GRANT, BOTH 0! LOS ANGELE, CALIFORNIA.

Application filed November 14, 1918. Serial No. 262,469. Renewed January 24, 1921.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, SAMUEL F. STEPHENS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improved Apparatus for Refining Oil, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for refining oil, and it has for its object to provide improvements of this nature which will permit of relatively greater efficiency, or output of refined product, for a still or apparatus of given size and capacity, and for a given provision of heat units. In accordance with the present invention I provide for a thorough and extended distribution of the oil to be refined over the heated surfaces of the still or working chamber, so that each particle of oil is immediately sub jected to intense heat action, whereby the volatilization of the same, or its breaking up into the different values or different gravity vapors, is accomplished with expedition anda considerable saving of time and fuel. The invention has for further objects the provision of apparatus and process for refining oils, which will be superior in point of relative simplicity and inexpensiveness of construction and organization, taken in conjunction with the increased efiiciency above mentioned, and further in conjunction with generally increased serviceability, convenience in control and attendance, reliability and capability of continued operation, durability and serviceability.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel and useful provision, formation, construction, combination, association and relative arrangement of parts, members and features, all as hereinafter described, shown in the drawin s, and finally pointed out in claims.

11 the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view,"

partly in elevation and partly broken away, of oil refining apparatus constructed and or anized to embody the invention; ig. 2 is a detail transverse sectional view of the same, taken upon the line as -m and looking in the direction of the appended arrows;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, of a Specification of Letters Patent.

modified form of construction, taken upon the line w w Fig. i, and looking in the di-. rection of the appended arrows; and,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to portions of Fig. 1, showing such modified form of construction.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are designated by the same reference characters. Referring with particularity to the drawing, the improved apparatus for refining oil therein disclosed, comprises in the main a still or working chamber A, having preferably a cylindrical median portion 5, an upwardly tapering upper portion 6 and a downwardly tapering lower portion 7, all

joined together so as to constitute a working unit, the upper portion 6 thereof communicating through apipe 8 with a condenser B, of the usual or any preferred form, whereby the vapors taken over by the condenser through the pipe 8 are liquefied in the form of a distilled orv refined product, such as kerosene, gasolene or other grade of hydrocarbon oil product. The lower portion 7 of the still communicates through a throat or pipe 9 with a sight' chamber 10 having a gage glass 11 whereby the level of residuum in such chamber may be viewed, a pipe 12 extending from such chamber to a residuum tank C, from which the same may be drawn off through a discharge pipe 13, or from which, after a suflicient settling action has taken place, the lighter fluids may be reintroduced to the still or chamber A, through the main supply line pipe 14, to which it may be fed by a pump D included in a pipe line 15 from such residuum tankC. This pipe 15 may have suitable valves 16 and 17 at either side of the pump D. The discharge or drain pipe 13 may likewise be provided with a suitable valve 18. Likewise a suitable valve 19 may be provided in the residuum line pipe 12, just below the sight chamber 10, so that by a proper adjustment Serial No. 439,692.

/of said valve and control of flow through the 'chamber may be maintained, as by an oil about the intermediate portion 5, and term'i burner 22 supplied through a fuel supply pipe 23-proceeding from an 'oil tank 24. The supply line pipe 14, after entering the heating chamber 21, is coiled or extended in -a plurality of .oonvolutions 14*, about the still or chamber A, such convolutions ascending from the lower portion 7, upwardly nating in a 'final portion about the upper portion 6, at which point a downward termivnal leg 14' is directed through a suitable opening in the still wall portion 6 to a point coincident with the vertical axis'of the still, and approximately at the top of the central zone of the still which is surrounded by the wall portion 5. Just below the orifice of such pipe leg 14c there is provided within the still a distributing member, H in Fi s. 1 and 2,.and K in Figs. 3 and 4. This 'dlstributing member in either case isconstructed and adapted to receive the oil or liquid to be refined from the pipe leg 14, and to violently andcentrifugally direct the same I provided with the usual flue and stack 27 to discharge the product of combustion of in a circular shower against the inner walls of the still A, initially at the circular wall portion 5 at the'central portion of the still whence it will flow in a thin film upwardly and downwardly over the walls 5, 6 and 7 of the still. applies to such portions of the liquid as have not been vaporized or volatilized previous to being. projected against or brought to the distributing member H or K.' Such portions of the liquid as have been so vaporized due to the pre-heating action taking lace in the convolutions or coils of the supp y pipe .14, escape from the pipe leg 14 within the still and thence rise in the still andpass over through the pipe 8 to the condenser without .further action in the still, unless it be an action tending to further vaporize and volatilize the same. The portions of the helm distributed to the hot walls of the still are immediately acted upon by the intense heat maintained in such walls by the combustion ice to which the still is being ut, by varying the inte sity of he heat in the heating This statement last made of course -cause rotation of the distributin chamber and also by varying the rate of flow of the fluid from the supplytank E, .or by either of such variations. The fluid so vaporized likewise passes oil from the still to the condenser B through the pipe .8, and from the condenser is taken off through a valved discharge pipe 25? to tanks or any other receptacle or conducted to any point of use or consumption.

26 designates a valved steam or water pipe which is introduced within the still A, preferably within the upper portion 6 thereof, passing through the furnace wall, the discharge end 26 of such pipe being dis-' posed within the still preferably directly above the discharge end of the liquid or oil supply pipe leg 14*. Water introduced to the still through this pipe 26 may be utilized to produce steam to assist in the still action or to purify the vapor product of the actionof such still; or steam may be introduced through such pipe in the first instance for the same purposes; or water with or without chemical content, such as boiler compound or deposits which form upon the inner surfaces of the still walls during distilling action.

The furnace or the heating chamber 21 is the heating burner 22 or of whatever other fuel consumption. may be relied upon for heating the still. I

Referring to Figs. 1 and '2, and returning to consideration of the distributing member H, the same is shown as comprising a circular disk 28 fixed at the upper end of a vertical shaft 29 the axis of which is coincident with the central vertical axis of the still, and which has journaled or stepped transverse spiders 30 and 31 installed within the still. it designates means for operating and rotating the disk 28, the same comprising a drive shaft 32 which is journaled in the central wall 5 of the still, as at 33, and has a further journal 34 within the still, and supported by a spider 31, such shaft extending through a stufling box 35 in the furnace wall and having suitable drive and idle pplleys 36 and 37 exteriorly of the furnace. supported at the burner 22 or any equipment eshing beveled gears 38 and 39, respectively upon the shaft 32 and the shiaffi 29, is 28 upon rotation of the shaft 32. uch disk 28 is preferablyof a diameter but slightly less than that of the central portion 5 of the'still, and. the periphery of the disk 28 preferably flares upwardly and outwardly in the form of a lip 28, which tends to direct the fuel from such disk upwardly and outward y g inst the wall 5 of the still' Referring to the form of distributing member K shown in Figs. 3 and 4:, the same drive means H may be employed, including the shafts 32 and 29, the gears 38 and 39, and attendant features, and there are provided in place of the distributing disk 28, a plurality of revolving spray pipes 40, preferably curved outwardly in the same direction, and -springing from a central cup or receptacle 41 fixed at the upper end of the shaft 29. The action of this distributing member K will be in effect the same as that of a distributing member H, but the fluid will be directed in jets by the pipes 40, against the still wall portion 5, instead of being directed against such wall portion in asheet,

v as is caused by the action of the distributing device H.

The operation, method of use and advantages of the apparatus and the process pertaining to the use of the apparatus, all herein disclosed and described and pictured in the drawings, will be readily understood from the foregoing description and said drawings, without the necessity of further detailed explanation. It may be said, however, that a continuous action may be maintained effectively, for the production of a relatively large quantity of refined output or product, within a given period of time, and with great economy of fuel, the liquid being incidentally supplied from the tank E, the residuum taken off to the tank C, and the lighter port-ions thereof being again returned to the still through the main liquid supply line 14. The inn'er'walls of the still may be freed from accumulations of smut or carbon by action of water supplied through the pipe 26, and likewise the vapor products may be purified through the action of steam produced from water so supplied, or

the action of steam supplied through said pipe 26. All of the fluid introduced to the walls through the pipe 14, is pre-heated before entering the still, which results in uick vaporizing or volatilizing of such uid, either prior to its coming into contact with the hot walls of the still, or almost immediately upon the causing of such contact. It is manifest that many variations and modifications may be made in practising the invention, all within the true spirit of the invention, and within a wide range of departure from the specific and particular construction, formation and inter-relation of parts and features depicted in the drawings. Havin thus disclosed my invent-ion, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An apparatus for distilling hydro-carbons and the like. including a still, means for heating the still, a substantially flat and horizontally disposed rotary distributing and agitating plate mounted within the still, means for feeding hydro-carbon to the plate, and means for rotating the plate to cause the hydro-carbon to flow outwardly in a thinfihn over the flat face thereof and be discharged violently from the periphery of the plate in a thin spray which is distributed upon the walls of the still.

2. An apparatus for distilling hydro-carbons and the like, including a still, means for heating the still, a rotary distributing and agitating plate mounted within the still and provided with a peripheral flange, means for feeding hydro-carbons to the plate, and means for rotating the plate to cause the hydro-carbon to flow outwardly in a thin film over the face thereof and be discharged "iolently over the edge of the flange in a spray which is distributed over the walls of the still.

3. An apparatus for distilling hydro-carbons and the like. including a still, means for heating the still, a substantially flat and horizontally disposed rotary distributing and agitating plate mounted within the still and provided at its periphery with an outwardly inclined flange, means for feeding hydro-carbons to the plate, and means for rotating the plate to cause the hydro-carbons to flow outwardly in a thin filmover the fiat upper face of the plate and be deflected upwardly and discharged violently over the upper edge of the flange in the form of a spray which is distributed over the walls of the still.

4. An apparatus for distilling hydro-carbons and the like. including a still, means for heating the still, a substantially fiat and horizontally disposed rotary distributing plate mounted within the still, means for feeding hydro-carbons to the plate, means for rotating the plate to cause the hydrocarbons to flow outwardly in a thin film over the surface of the plate and be discharged violently against the walls of the still, and means upon the plate for deflecting the hydro-carbons upwardly as they are bons and the like, including a, still, a heat-- ing chamber within which the still is arranged, a mechanical distributer mounted within the still, means for driving the distributer, and a pre-heating pipe arranged upon the exterior'of the still within the heat- .ing chamber, said 'pipe terminating-in a discharge arm which enters the still and delivers the pre-heated hydro-carbons to the distributer. q

7. An apparatus for distilling hydro-carbons and the like, including a still, a heating chamber within which the still is mounted, a rotary distributing plate within the still, and. a pre-heating coil surroundin the still and arranged within the heating c amher, said coil terminating in an arm which discharges upon the distributing plate.

8. An apparatus for distilling hydro-carbons and the like, including a still, means for heating the still, a substantially horizontally disposed rotary distributing plate mounted within the still, means for feeding hydro-carbon or the like to the plate, and

means for rotating the plate to cause the hydro-carbon to flow outwardly in a thin .film over the face of the plate and to be directed violentlyagainst the walls of the still;

whereby the hydro-carbon or the like is spread in a thin film over the walls of the still and thereupon acted upon by heat.

9. apparatus for distilling hydro-can,

bons and the like, including a still, a heat:

dition within the heating chamber, a subs'tantially horizontally disposed rotary dis: tributing element mounted within the still,

'ing chamber within which the still is'disposed, means for maintaining a heated.;con',- v i means forv'feeding hydro-carbon-or the like i to the saidrotary element, and means for rotating the rotary element to cause the hydro-carbon sir the like to flow outwardly in a thin film over the surface of such rotary element; whereby such hydro-carbon or the like is violently discharged from the pe-- riphery of the rotary element against the 

